\n<\/p>\n
After apparent months of planning, the U.S. strike that resulted in the arrest<\/a> of Venezuelan leader Nicol\u00e1s Maduro unfolded swiftly<\/a> over the weekend, with American forces converging on Caracas to arrest Maduro and his wife.<\/p>\n In subsequent days, Maduro would be spirited from a U.S. warship to a plane and ultimately a downtown Manhattan courthouse, where he would enter a not guilty plea on narco-terrorism charges.<\/p>\n Trump and U.S. military leaders gave details of the operation, and Venezuelan officials spoke out against it. Global leaders considered the situation in venues including the United Nations, and Venezuelans living in the U.S. celebrated the news of Maduro\u2019s capture. <\/p>\n This is how the operation unfolded:<\/p>\n 10:46 p.m. EST: Trump gives go-ahead for U.S. strikes in Venezuela.<\/p>\n 1:01 a.m. EST: U.S. forces arrive at Maduro compound in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.<\/p>\n 3:29 a.m. EST: U.S. forces are \u201cover the water\u201d \u2014 meaning beyond the coastline \u2014 on their way from Venezuela back to American ships stationed in the Caribbean Sea.<\/p>\n 4:21 a.m. EST: Trump announces on Truth Social that the U.S. has carried out a \u201clarge scale strike\u201d against Venezuela and captured Maduro. The U.S. president says he will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. EST.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n Venezuela\u2019s Vice President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/a> said, \u201cWe do not know the whereabouts of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cWe demand proof of life.\u201d \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife will face criminal charges after an indictment in New York, vowing in a social media post that the couple will \u201csoon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.\u201d \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 In South Florida, Venezuelans celebrated the news<\/a> of Maduro\u2019s capture at a rally held outside a South American eatery. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 Trump told Fox News that the couple were aboard the U.S. warship Iwo Jima and headed to New York, where they would face prosecution. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 The Justice Department released a new indictment accusing Maduro and his wife for their alleged roles in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 Trump posted a photo on social media showing Maduro wearing a sweatsuit and a blindfold with the caption \u201cNicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.\u201d \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- Accompanying Trump at a press conference \u2014 which got underway nearly 40 minutes after its scheduled 11 a.m. EST start time \u2014 were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Stephen Miller, a top White House aide overseeing homeland security matters. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 Trump said the U.S. was \u201c going to run\u201d Venezuela<\/a> until a \u201cjudicious\u201d transition of power. At that moment, there were no visible signs the U.S. was controlling the country. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 In a televised address to the nation lasting less than 15 minutes, Rodr\u00edguez left open the door for dialogue with the U.S. while also seeking to calm ruling party supporters.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, we have a government with clarity, and I repeat and repeat again \u2026 we are willing to have respectful relations,\u201d she said, referring to the Trump administration. \u201cIt is the only thing we will accept for a type of relationship after having attacked (Venezuela).\u201d<\/p>\n Venezuela\u2019s high court ordered Rodriguez to assume the role of interim president<\/a>, and the leader was backed by Venezuela\u2019s military. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- A plane carrying Maduro arrived in New York following his capture by the U.S., an AP source said.<\/p>\n In a statement read on Cuban state TV, the Cuban government announced that the American military strikes in Venezuela had killed 32 Cuban military and police officers<\/a> who had been on a mission at the request of Venezuela\u2019s government.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n In comments aboard Air Force One flying from Florida to Washington, Trump said Venezuela was sick and needed U.S. support, adding: \u201cColombia\u2019s very sick, too. Run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he\u2019s not going to be doing it very long.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if that might mean a U.S. operation that could target Colombia President Gustavo Petro, Trump responded, \u201cSounds good to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Saying he had repeatedly offered U.S. troops to Mexico, which he said \u201chas to get their act together\u201d on drug trafficking, Trump said President Claudia Sheinbaum is \u201cconcerned, she\u2019s a little afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n Questioned about U.S. military force in Cuba, however, Trump said: \u201cI think it\u2019s just going to fall. … I don\u2019t think we need any action.\u201d<\/p>\n _______<\/p>\n Maduro arrives at the federal courthouse in New York City. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting<\/a>, where both allies and adversaries of the United States voiced opposition to the U.S. raid.<\/p>\n ______<\/p>\n Maduro’s son appeared in Venezuela\u2019s National Assembly, where the country\u2019s lawmakers elected in parliamentary elections last May were set to be sworn in. Maduro Guerra, also known as \u201cNicol\u00e1sito,\u201d demanded that his parents be returned by American authorities and called on international support.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 Maduro made his first appearance<\/a> in a U.S. courtroom following his capture. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- Maduro pleaded not guilty<\/a> in a U.S. court, telling a judge, \u201cI am a decent man, the president of my country.\u201d<\/p>\n Maduro\u2019s next court date is set for March 17.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n